Even though my face is glued to the window looking for boutique frontages as we travel by tram through Melbourne & suburbs and by car through Hobart and the Tasmanian towns, I get very excited when I find a great little coffee shop or restaurant we can stop at for a bite to eat.
Now the coffee and food too ! ~Part 2
Foodwise finding a satisfying place to eat is not too dissimiliar to my fashion prerequisite in my former blog. Ambient frontage, welcome atmosphere that feels like a great experience when you walk in and then an 'eye run' over the cuisine to see if it appeals. Of course there is a need versus want factor just like fashion buying.
On my travels around Tassie [Tasmania for overseas readers - the mainland fondly call it this] I had a craving for scallop pies and I loved every little flaky morsel (want) but it WAS cold, so my goosebumped legs told me, till I realised the cold wasn't going to go away and I dragged out my hip new footless tights ... see my previous post.
Just had to have it - Acland St, St Kilda, MelbourneBut then no cold excuse in Melbourne! The windows of the patisseries in Acland Street in St Kilda so enthralled me with its ambience I just had to have a double layered custard slice - well I shared - and the temperature was 39 degrees so think I would classify it as a want. At least with the fashion wants you buy, it can be worn again!
Definately have your coffee in Acland street at 95 expresso, great coffee and fun to watch the passing people with so many different accents drifting by.
Hopetoun Tea Rooms MelbourneOn the subject of ambient eating places that draw you in, would have to say that the Hopetoun Tea Room in the Block Arcade Melbourne would take the cake. Have a look at the photo and I ask you - would you too just HAVE to line up just so you could get a table, then be so thrilled to get in, in such a short time, that you had to order not only a cherry pie but apple strudel as well - shared though!
Melbourne still, in raptures when I wandered around the Prahran markets off Chapel Street. Row upon row of not only fresh produce but cheeses, homemade pastas and a lot of unusual continental food that I would have just loved to take home and try. For a light refreshing interlude, the Oriental Tea House in Chapel street is just the place. The lanes of Melbourne city are another story.
I know you are wanting to know in my tour of Tasmania where that scallop pie came from? Actually can be sourced from many places but I enjoyed the curried (mild) one from the bakery at Richmond, a beautiful historic town not far from Hobart .
Along the national highway on the way up to Launceston I found some little gems - actually, local knowledge passed on. Just into Campbell Town, so pleased we took the time to stop at the Red Bridge Cafe & Providore. Loved sitting in the historic building of 1836 drinking a big cup of the best coffee & a moorish light lunch.
Not far from there, on the next morning coming back from Launceston saved breakfast to stop at the village Perth (Tassie Perth !) at the ut si cafe, set in a restored church building and surrounded by its own herb gardens. One word for this place ... gourmet!
Another different styled cafe gem that I found south of Hobart is The Red Velvet Lounge set in a historic building in Cygnet. As the name leans toward, 50's eclectic decore, fun, terrific menu, ... a place where you can buy their stoneground bread and a jar of homemade chutney to take home. My eyes were glued to the sweets cabinet all the way out so I could think about what I would order next time when I didn't have such a satisfying main .
Since I don't want to extend this to a Part 3 blog there are two places that I need to mention in Hobart.
As soon as I fly in and my sister meets me I always say .."take me to Jackman & McCross!" Positioned in the middle of historic Battery Point, it is a gourmet bakery & cafe that meets most of my casual cuisine needs (pork & sage gourmet sausage roll AND salad!) and the needs of our PM too, on her last visit!
Those little touches - tricycle cafe bar, Salamanca Hobart
Makes all the difference - The Red Velvet Lounge, Cygnet TasmaniaIt is always the special small touches that make a difference to experiencing both fashion and food ventures. I was sold when the tricycle cafe bar at Salamanca Place brought out their water in old fashioned milk bottles with a big piece of mint slotted in it ... I was endeared when our milk came out in cute little capped bottles sitting in the cups at The Red Velvet Lounge.
To me this says loud and clear ... I care about the experience you have and I want to make it as wonderfully memorable as possible, so that when you are home the memory makes you smile. Hope if one day you visit these gems you come home with a smile as well ~ just like I hope you do when you come home after a visit to the San Nizet studio.
Because I care ... 
A great place for the travelling fashionista to rest her weary feet at night - The Charsfield, St Kilda Rd Melbourne 
I did enjoy scenery in Tasmania as well as trying on shoes! Tasman Arch towards Port Arthur
My fav purchase from Hobart - spanish mikaela shoes, comfortable for walking too!
Love my Lloyd's from Melbourne - can't wait to wear them!
The padded sunglass case for big sunglasses seemed to be the most popular, because to find this size in a softcase is difficult and also the satin lining allows the glasses to easily be slipped in and out, as everyone is on the run. I must admit I had to get into the habit of putting the glasses into a case instead of just throwing them in my bag, and so worth it, knowing that I would get a bit more wear out of my Ralph Lauren sunglasses that I have got so attached to! Can't think of the day, they would become disposable because I didnt take a little more care. 
A bonus with the smaller sunglass and reading glasses case is that I can actually find them now! I have a pair for each of the areas of the studio and my home where I tend to read, and when they are in the case I can spot them easily. Next year I am going to make all of my cases to match the decor of my home but then thats me ~ hugely into interior design as well as fashion design.
With the shown photo, I have given you a peak at the little cutie case which is in fact a phone case. That was designed around my own needs when I got a new iPhone and even though I had the backing case, I felt it was still prone to getting scratched in my bag, since I carry every conceivable thing I "might just need''. Those who saw it loved it, so it will be definitely on the agenda next year. If you would like to have a browse and check out my other photos of sunglass and reading glasses designs, it can be found on my business facebook page ... 
The Very Moorish Christmas Shortbread Recipe
... served in the San Nizet studio from a family recipe.
See the latest San Nizet 
For example ... Purple or teal or hot pink would look amazing as a trim for the tribal black & white print sleeve. The options are not as prevalent for the tribal royal blue /white & grey combo but we can certainly work on something together.
An exciting option is also to substitute the Rose Print that filters through the collection in either colour combination ... there is a choice of two ... and use it as a swing sleeve. See the Rose Print fabric throughout the
San Nizet's luxurious 100% Australian Merino Wool Jersey WRAPS/PASHMINAS and TOPS are ... Australian designed, locally manufactured and loved and proudly worn by women everywhere!
The selection of colours were stunning and lifts the look of any wardrobe, but the fabric also has excellent breathability. Not only does it keep you warm when needed but it releases heat and moisture when you are hot, so perfect for summer and winter wearing and ideal to pack for travelling because often, we want a versatile garment to adjust to a few climate changes in the short space of a trip away.
Catwalk shot by Paul Fletcher
A surreal moment before it all happens?
Sharing the limelight with my designer friends ... Felicity & Katie from Vinco Amor and Kathy from Rubyanna Road 
Sharing the night with my buddy from Fashion Exposed ... Mel from Eva Lily
With my gorgeous model Katie ready to go! 
I touched on this look in my 
Who is the star here in the photoshoot? Finn or my model Dottie? Dalmation spots rocked Paris in the 60's and recently Michael Kors embraced the 'dalmatian look' by pairing oversized dots with pretty florals.
A more subtle polka-dotted fabric made into a Biz shirt ~ imagine dramatic monochrome dotted accessories styled with this great base.
A close-up look at the San Nizet fabric ~ it's dotty!
Soon you will be able to see a new section on my website grown from PASSION for the limited edition designs and NEED for myself and likeminded clients trying to find a unique Australian Made and lightweight gift to send to a family member or special friends and I might add, at a reasonable price, which needs to come into the equation in everyones household these days.
